- Slovenska matica
:"This article is about the Slovene publishing house founded in 1864.
Matica slovenská is a cultural and scientific institution inSlovakia , founded in 1863."Slovenska matica ( _en. Slovene Society), also known as Matica slovenska, is the second-oldest publishing house inSlovenia , founded in the 19th century as an institution for the scholarly and cultural progress of Slovenes. The name can be literally translated into English as the "Slovene Queen Bee," which is a methaphor meaning "the parent body of the Slovenes." It should not be confused with "Matica slovenská ", an analogous institution inSlovakia .History
The "Slovenska matica" was founded on the proposal of several Slovene patriotic associations and individuals from
Maribor , who urged the establishment of an institution that would publish advanced scholarly literature in Slovene, foster the expansion of culture among Slovenes, and the development of scientific terminology in Slovene. In 1864, the consortium "Slovenska matica" was founded inLjubljana . Its work was based on the examples of similar institutions in otherSlavic countries, such as the "Matica hrvatska " inCroatia , "Matica srpska " inVojvodina , "Matice česká " in theCzech Lands , and "Matica slovenská " inSlovakia . The consortium was established with private capital, as well as with capital of theDuchy of Carniola and several cultural associations. The Austrian EmperorFrancis Joseph I also gave a substantial financial contribution for its founding.The institution reached its peak at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, it functioned as a regular publishing house on a
free market , publishing books for a general public, many of which becamebestsellers ; at the same time, it also performed the role of anAcademy of Sciences , fosteringhigh culture and maintaining close contacts with theYugoslav Academy of Sciences and Arts in Zagreb, theSerbian Academy of Sciences and Arts inBelgrade , as well as similar institutions inPrague ,Krakow ,London andSankt Peterburg .During
World War One , the SM was closed and its properties confiscated by the Austro-Hungarian authorities. The alleged cause was the publication of the book "Gospodin Franjo" ("Mister Franjo") by the Slovene author and officer of theAustro-Hungarian Army Fran Maselj Podlimbarski , which was a strong satirical critique of the Austro-Hungarian occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.During the
Kingdom of Yugoslavia , the "Slovenska matica" expanded its publishing work and in 1938 it was one of the co-founders of theSlovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts . During the Italian occupation inWorld War Two , the leadership of the "Slovenska matica" collaborated with theLiberation Front of the Slovenian People . In 1944, it was shut down by theNazi German authorities. In late 1945, the communist authorities of thePeople's Republic of Slovenia allowed the "Matica" to be re-established, although its editorial policies were considered "too conservative" by the new regime. Most of its properties were nationalized by the state, but the institution was allowed to continue functioning and later received substantial subsidies.The work of the institution was reinvigorated again in the 1980s, when it started systematically publishing translations of major Western philosophers and political theorists, including authors regarded as
subversive of the officialSocialist ideology , such asHeidegger ,Machiavelli ,Jan Patočka ,Unamuno ,José Ortega y Gasset ,Aurelius Augustinus , and the complete works ofNietzsche .Chairmen
Since its establishment, the "Matica" has been headed by important figures from Slovene cultural and public life.
* 1865-1869:
Lovro Toman , lawyer, author and politician
* 1869-1875:Etbin Henrik Costa , lawyer and politician
* 1875-1881:Janez Bleiweis , politician
* 1881-1882:Josip Marn , literary historian
* 1882-1885:Peter Grasselli , politician, mayor of Ljubljana
* 1885-1886:Josip Poklukar , editor
* 1886-1893: Josip Marn
* 1893-1907:Fran Levec , literary historian
* 1907-1914:Fran Ilešič , literary historian
* 1917: Peter Grasselli
* 1918-1920:Ivan Tavčar , author and politician, mayor of Ljubljana
* 1920-1947:Dragotin Lončar , historian and political theorist
* 1947-1949:Oton Župančič , poet
* 1950-1966:Anton Melik , geographer
* 1966-1975:France Koblar , art historian
* 1975-1978:Fran Zwitter , historian
* 1978-1987:Bogo Grafenauer , historian
* 1987-1994:Primož Simoniti , classical philologist, historian and translator
* 1994- 2008:Joža Mahnič , literary historian
* since 2008:Milček Komelj , art historian and criticEditors and chancellors
Many prominent individuals served as editors and chancellors (chief secretaries) of the institution. The most prominent of these were
Fran Levstik ,Josip Vidmar ,Juš Kozak ,France Bernik , andDrago Jančar . Several others have worked for the institution, including philosophersIvo Urbančič andTine Hribar .References
* [http://www.slovenska-matica.si/iz_zgodovine Slovenska matica: iz zgodovine]
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